Suburb #111 O'Connor

Suburb number 111 was O'Connor in the inner north of Canberra...which alas appears to no longer have a sign.

O'Connor is named after Richard Edward O'Connor, a judge in the high court and a founder of the Constitution.

The streets here are named after explorers, Australia flora, legislators and pioneers.

My adventure started at the local shops...in the pub....which seemed appropriate (love the t-shirt :p).

 

If you don't have a map on you, look downwards for assistance!

 Or follow the 'waterways' :p

 Past the new mansions of O'Connor...

And the beautiful memories of times past...

The views and old gums at the top of the suburb are particularly beautiful...

But as my adventure continued I also found some rather unexpected things...including a large caravan park seemingly in the middle of nowhere, completely out of sight...

And a natural wonderland almost in the middle of the city! The bush capital at its best. I can't wait to get fit and explore the bike trails around here properly.

The secrets of O'Connor - just what this project was all about :-)

Suburb #106 Ainslie

So now that I don't have to work weekends anymore, I may actually be able to finish this blog project and start my new one in the new year :) To re-start with a bang, I decided to go to Ainslie before it was too late to see all the early spring blossoms.

Ainslie is named after James Ainslie, a veteran of the Battle Of Waterloo (should have worn by skirt for this adventure :p) and the  first overseer of Duntroon station. The streets are named after pioneers and legislators.

Alas Ainslie is one of those sign less suburbs :( so this will just have to do...

Ainslie was constructed first between 1925 and 1927 to accommodate tradesman for the construction of the city, and then after that for lower income public servants. Alas no more low incomes allowed around here anymore....

I started my wanderings at the  gorgeous All Saints Anglican Church which was apparently originally built as a railway station for Rookwood Cemetery in NSW, but was then moved to Canberra in the 1950s. I had never been inside the Church before but was lucky enough to find it open and get to see the stained glass windows from England on the inside...

Then it was past the street sign that has been decorated with flowers for as long as I can remember...so gorgeous despite the sad memories they no doubt represent...

Then it was off to find some blossoms....

Past a local sword fight (as you do...)...

And some cheerier decorations :)

 Ainslie is still gorgeous, but it is sad to see so many of the beautiful old homes being torn down...

And replaced with some interesting architectural choices...

Luckily the old bus stops which partly inspired this blog in the first place are still there though :)

This one makes me smile so much and gives me hope that one day I will find my fairytale here :)

But of course one can't leave Ainslie without a visit to the local shops..

After all here is one of the most important attractions in Ainslie....the epic cheese selection at the IGA...

With the amazing wine collection at the local bottle shop not far away either....

But the shops is also a place to meet new friends...

Or pick up something new to read...

Before perhaps a wander with some friends of a more mobile kind :p

Thank you Ainslie :)